Developmental coordination disorder

Developmental coordination disorder is a neurodevelopmental disorder primarily characterised by motor coordination significantly below that expected for an individual’s age, in the absence of neurological or intellectual deficits (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). This poorer coordination has a significant negative impact on activities of daily living and individual well-being. While it is understood that the root cause of DCD likely lies in the development of the brain, there is presently no consensus into the precise nature of this neurological basis of the disorder. The aim of this chapter is to outline the current understanding of DCD from a developmental cognitive neuroscience perspective. It begins by briefly describing the presentation of DCD, before moving on to outline neuroscientific hypotheses and the evidence supporting them. The chapter concludes with an exploration of current issues in the field and potential future directions for research into the developmental cognitive neuroscience of DCD